Hurdle trusts Melancon, no matter the situation

CINCINNATI — Mark Melancon entered the Pirates’ series finale against the Cardinals on Sunday with a five-run lead and the bases loaded. He threw two pitches and picked up his ninth save of the season.

It wasn’t a traditional save situation, the kind when a closer enters to pitch one full inning with a lead of three runs or fewer. Melancon hasn’t seen many of those this season. But he continues to get the job done, providing manager Clint Hurdle with a reliable bullpen arm amid an uneven start overall.

“He’s been a pro,” Hurdle said. “Whenever he’s been called upon to pitch, he takes that ball, and he goes to work.”

Four of Melancon’s nine saves this year have come in less than one inning of work, matching his total from last year a little more than a month into the season. In those four games, including Sunday, he’s faced one batter and thrown fewer than five pitches.

In three of his saves, Melancon was sent out to protect a lead …

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